This book arrived at my office for preview and I picked it up. I wasn't expecting much, but instead thoroughly enjoyed reading about the history of prThis book arrived at my office for preview and I picked it up. I wasn't expecting much, but instead thoroughly enjoyed reading about the history of pre-revolutionary France and a women who was incredibly modern for her time. She elaborated on Newton's theories and Voltaire had a hell of a time trying to keep up.

Voltaire was also pretty amazing, not only was he a renegage poet and playwright but he was also a savvy business men who bought and sold in order to fund his writing habit.

I also really liked Galileo's Daughter, which was similar thematically. ...more

This book made me fall in love with physics all over again. Much like spinning together a crazy plot or fairy tale, scientists must think "out-of-the-This book made me fall in love with physics all over again. Much like spinning together a crazy plot or fairy tale, scientists must think "out-of-the-box" in order to take a theory to the next level. You kind of feel lighter than air as you read about their thought process.

I loved picturing Einstein at his home with his newborn son on his knee, plotting how light affects the conversion from mass to energy. There is something fantastic about equations--the way all the pieces fit together is quite inspiring. Bodanis also describes how the atomic bomb was developed and other applications of of E=mc(squared).

Anyway, Bodanis is one of my favorite authors. I would also recommend his book about Emilie du Chatlet and Voltaire. He manages to merge science with history and make his vignettes come alive with oodles of odd factoids and anecdotes.

I see here that one reviewer thought that some of the mathematics in this book were incorrect. For me, I wasn't as concerned with accuracy, preferring to read about how people solve problems, build off of each others ideas, and how jealous and ego-centric scientists can be. A great read. ...more

I'm actually reading this one right now as well. I picked it up because there are a lot of images of Orientalism in the ballets from the 1910s to theI'm actually reading this one right now as well. I picked it up because there are a lot of images of Orientalism in the ballets from the 1910s to the 1930s, especially in the ballets from Les Ballets Russes like Scheherazade and La Bayadere. These ballets are amazing, but also slightly disturbing because they blend the cultures of Asia and the Middle East into one cohesive fairy-tale land. I want to understand how this disconnect occurred.

Oddly enough, I found this book when I went to the Stanford Bookstore over Thanksgiving and was looking at the required reading for a couple of history courses. This book was required for every single one. ...more

It took a while to finish, but this book was pretty darn compelling. I'm actually a bit surprised by the order of the chapters (each chapter follows tIt took a while to finish, but this book was pretty darn compelling. I'm actually a bit surprised by the order of the chapters (each chapter follows the authors foray into the history of that color), because the last couple chapters were the strongest. The author (a former arts journalist for the South China Morning Post) sneaks into Afghanistan during the Taliban rule to take a look at the Lapis Lazuli mines and treks all over the world to explore the ancient roots of dying and pigmentation. She travels to Balbek to find mollusks that secrete Tyrinian Purple dye, explores the saffron fields in Iran and Spain to find the source of yellow, and checks out sacred dirt in Samoa. I bet this book was a lot of fun to research and write.

My previous review:

So far this book is a wild trip through the history of paints and pencils. Did you know the first pencils were made out of willow? And the color black was made out of corpses bones? It's fairly interesting so far and the writing style is lively. I would recommend this book for people who are interested in the fine arts. ...more

This is sort of an unauthorized biography of the British dance legend Margot Fonteyn. The author finally addresses the question of Margot and RudolphThis is sort of an unauthorized biography of the British dance legend Margot Fonteyn. The author finally addresses the question of Margot and Rudolph Nureyev--did they or didn't they?--Daneman's answer is yes, especially since she delves into the other private loves of Fonteyn, of which there were several. All in all a pretty good biography, especially if you've read her autobiography.

Fonteyn is an interesting dancer, today known more for her phrasing and subtle interpretation of music. Her pairing with the stormy Nureyev is probably what she's most famous for; they were kind of like a princess and a lion together. She's entirely different from the dancer of today, but easy to love if you know what you are looking for. ...more

If you want to read great criticism, this is the go-to woman. She wrote for the New Yorker for years and years. Kael's film reviews are laugh-out-loudIf you want to read great criticism, this is the go-to woman. She wrote for the New Yorker for years and years. Kael's film reviews are laugh-out-loud funny. It may not be in this book, but I loved her review of The Sound of Music--which she hated. She called Andrews "sexless" with her boyish hair and unflappable optimism.

I actually like the movie, but I cracked up all over the place in the library when I read her review. She rocks. ...more

Another excellent biography of George Balanchine. I like this one because Teachout, a drama critic for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down his choreoAnother excellent biography of George Balanchine. I like this one because Teachout, a drama critic for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down his choreography and finds meaning in much of his patterns of movement. Pretty cool. ...more

I just love this book! It's a great way to learn about how the French wrested control of the fashion industry (prior to them, it was in the hands of tI just love this book! It's a great way to learn about how the French wrested control of the fashion industry (prior to them, it was in the hands of the Dutch and the Venetians). You also learn about the evolution of champagne, city lights (one of the Sun King's many achievements), Women's Wear Daily, mirrors, diamonds (the Renaissance people loved the pearl), and coffee houses among other things; basically all things fun and decadent! ...more

Pretty cool. I've used this one to learn about the history of collectable sneakers and random pop trends. There are diagrams for the various parts ofPretty cool. I've used this one to learn about the history of collectable sneakers and random pop trends. There are diagrams for the various parts of a shoe. Among others, the author profiles Pumas, adidas, Nike, Bathing Ape, Pony, Reebok and Vans...with lots of neat pics. ...more

One of my favorite textbooks from my favorite course in college. This book goes through all of the visual arts, architecture, fine art, photography, cOne of my favorite textbooks from my favorite course in college. This book goes through all of the visual arts, architecture, fine art, photography, crafts, set within the major movements of civilization (Greeks, Romans, Buddists, Islamic, Byzantine, I could go on and on). The book makes a valiant effort to explore art from a variety of civilizations and I like how well Honour places everthing within a historical context....more